Update: Metal Shredding Company Settles Air Pollution Case

SA Recycling agrees to pay approximately $3 million to resolve lawsuit.

SA Recycling, a scrap metal recycling firm based in Anaheim, Calif., has agreed to pay more than $2.93 million to comply with air pollution laws to settle an environmental protection lawsuit, according to the Los Angeles district attorney’s office. The company was accused of releasing toxic substances into the atmosphere. The civil lawsuit and settlement were filed in late August 2011.

The action alleged that SA Recycling violated air pollution laws when an explosion at the company’s auto shredder in San Pedro, Calif., at its facility at Terminal Island destroyed its air pollution control system in May 2007 and the company continued operating for weeks without the proper equipment.  At the time of the violations, the company was operated by Sims subsidiary Sims Hugo Neu West. When the Los Angeles district attorney's office originally announced the settlement, the office erroneously reported that the company was operated by Hugo New Corp. at the time of the violations. Hugo New Corp. provided documentation to the district attorney's office showing Sims Group Limited acquired substantially all of the recycling operations of Hugo Neu Corp. on Oct. 31, 2005. In December 2005, the new company applied for a subsidiary name change to Sims Hugo Neu West. On June 22, 2007, the Sims Group announced that it had merged the metals recycling operation with Adams Steel, creating SA Recycling LLC. The district attorney's office issued an ammended press release to correct the misinformation.

The injunction permanently enjoins SA Recycling from operating its San Pedro shredder without a fully functioning air pollution control system.

Under the terms of the stipulated judgment, SA Recycling has agreed to install an air pollution control system to minimize emissions at its San Pedro location and two other sites in Orange and Kern counties. The company also agreed to work closely with state and local regulators to address compliance issues related to its operations.

According to the settlement, SA Recycling must additionally pay $260,000 in civil penalties and investigative costs to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and $430,000 to the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) for investigative expenses and enforcement tools.

Investigators of the DA’s Bureau of Investigation and High-Tech Task Force with DTSC investigators and nationally recognized air pollution experts assisted in the investigation.

 

Get curated news on YOUR industry.

Enter your email to receive our newsletters.

Loading...